Advisory

Circular


Subject: Use of Portable Electronic
Devices Aboard Aircraft
Date: 8/25/06
Initiated by: AFS-350
AC No: 91-21.1B

1. PURPOSE. This advisory circular (AC) provides aircraft operators with information and guidance
for assistance in compliance to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91,
section 91.21. Section 91.21 was established because of the potential for portable electronic devices
(PED) to interfere with aircraft communications and navigation equipment. It prohibits the operation
of PEDs aboard U.S.-registered civil aircraft while operating under instrument flight rules (IFR). This
rule permits use of specified PEDs and other devices that the operator of the aircraft has determined
will not interfere with the safe operation of that aircraft. The recommendations contained herein are
one means, but not the only means, of complying with section 91.21 requirements, pertaining to the
operation of PEDs.
2. CANCELLATION. AC 91-21.1A, Use of Portable Electronic Devices Aboard Aircraft, dated
October 2, 2000, is canceled.
3. RELATED 14 CFR SECTIONS. Section 91.21, 121.306, 125.204, and 135.144.
4. BACKGROUND.
a. Section 91.21 (formerly section 91.19) was initially established in May 1961 to prohibit the
operation of high-frequency omnidirectional range was being used for navigation purposes. The
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) subsequently determined that other PEDs could be potentially
hazardous to aircraft communication and navigation equipment, if operated aboard aircraft.
Amendment 91-35 amended the scope of former section 91.19 to prohibit the use of additional PEDs
aboard certain U.S. civil aircraft. Section 91.21, as adopted, was drafted to require the air carrier or
commercial operator to determine whether a particular PED will cause interference when operated
aboard its aircraft.
b. RTCA Special Committee 156 accomplished a study of the potential for interference from
PEDs and released Document No. RTCA/DO-199, volumes 1 and 2, entitled Potential Interference to
Aircraft Electronic Equipment from Devices Carried Aboard. RTCA Special Committee 177 did a
further study of these devices and released Document No. RTCA/DO-233, entitled Portable
Electronic Devices Carried on Board Aircraft. The finding and conclusions from these two studies
helped the FAA establish the current policy which allows the use of non-transmitting PEDS during
non-critical phases of flight. In March 2003, the FAA requested that RTCA form a special committee
to evaluate and develop guidance related to assess the impact and risks related to the use of

AC 91-21.1B 8/25/06
intentionally radiating PEDs (transmitting PEDs, or T-PEDs) that passengers may bring onto civil
aircraft. These include mobile telephones, computers with wireless network capabilities, and other
wireless-enabled devices such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDA). On October 19, 2004, RTCA
released Document No. DO-294, prepared by Special Committee 202, titled Guidance on Allowing
Transmitting Portable Electronic Devices (T-PEDS) on Aircraft (to obtain RTCA documents see
paragraph 8b).
c. Other activities in this area were done by the Consumer Electronics Association when in
October, 2004; they issued a standard practice to help manage the use of wireless devices on board
aircraft that would greatly enhance the flightcrew and the flying publics ability to comply with airline
policies for portable electronic devices.
5. DISCUSSION.
a. The related 14 CFR sections in paragraph 3 allow for the operation of PEDs that the operator of
the aircraft has determined will not interfere with the navigation or communication system of that
aircraft. In addition to the originally addressed non-transmitting PEDs, this revised AC also recognizes
and provides guidance on the potential use of T-PEDS. It should be noted that the responsibility for
permitting passenger use of a particular PED technology lies solely with the operator. RTCA/DO-233,
current edition, provides government agencies and aircraft operators with recommendations for
acceptable use of certain non-transmitting PEDs onboard aircraft. The current edition of
RTCA/DO-294 identifies a process for airlines to make a determination of acceptable use of T-PEDs.
The determination of an interfering effect caused by a particular device on the navigation and
communication system of the aircraft on which it is to be used or operated must, in case of an aircraft
operated by the holder of an air carrier certificate or other operating certificate, be made by that
operator (i.e., certificate holder). In all other cases, a determination must be made by the operator
and/or by the pilot-in-command (PIC). In some cases, the determination may be based on operational
tests conducted by the operator without the need for sophisticated testing equipment.
b. When safely at cruise altitude, the pilot could allow the devices to be operated. If interference
is experienced, the types of devices causing interference could be isolated, along with the applicable
conditions recorded. The device responsible for the interference should then be turned off. If all
operators collect this type of data with specific information, a large enough database could be
generated to identify specific devices causing interference. The operator may want to obtain the
services of a person or facility capable of determining non-interference to the aircrafts navigation,
communication, or other electronic system. Personnel specifically designated by the air carrier or
commercial operator for this purpose may make this determination using the process described in
RTCA/DO-294. For other aircraft, the language of the rule expressly permits the determination to be
made by the Pilot in Command or operators of the aircraft. Thus, in the case of rental aircraft, the
renter-pilot, lessee, or owner-operator could make the determination.
6. RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES FOR THE OPERATION OF PEDs ABOARD
AIRCRAFT. If an operator allows the use of PEDs aboard its aircraft, procedures should be established
and spelled out clearly to control their use during passenger-carrying operations. The procedures, when
used in conjunction with an operators program, should provide the following:
a. Methods to inform passengers of permissible times, conditions, and limitations when
various PEDs may be used. This may be accomplished through the departure briefing, passenger
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8/25/06 AC 91-21.1B
information cards, captains announcement, and other methods deemed appropriate by the
operator. For air carrier operations conducted under 14 CFR part 121 or part 135, the
limitations, as a minimum, should state that use of all such devices (except certain inaccessible
medical electronic devices, for example, heart pacemakers) are prohibited during any phase of
operation when their use could interfere with the communication or navigation equipment on
board the aircraft or the ability of the flightcrew to give necessary instructions in the event of an
emergency.
b. Procedures to terminate the operation of PEDs suspected of causing interference with
aircraft systems.
c. Procedures for reporting instances of suspected or confirmed interferences by a PED to a
local FAA Flight Standards District Office or the FSDO that has certificate management
responsibility for the air carrier.
d. Cockpit to cabin coordination and cockpit flightcrew monitoring procedures.
e. Procedures for determining non-interference acceptability of those PEDs to be operated
aboard its aircraft. Acceptable PEDs should be clearly spelled out in oral departure briefings and
by written material provided to each passenger to avoid passenger confusion. The operator of
the aircraft must make the determination of the effects of a particular PED on the navigation and
communication systems of the aircraft on which it is to be operated. The operation of a PED is
prohibited, unless the device is specifically listed in section 91.21(b)(1) through (4). However,
even if the device is an exception from the general prohibition on the use of PEDs, an operator
may prohibit use of that PED. The use of all other PEDs is prohibited by regulation, unless
pursuant to section 91.21(b)(5). The operator is responsible for making the final determination
that the operation of that device will not interfere with the communication or navigation system
of the aircraft on which it is to be operated.
f. Prohibiting the operation of any PEDs during the takeoff and landing phases of flight. It
must be recognized that the potential for personal injury to passengers is a paramount
consideration, as well as is the possibility of missing significant safety announcements during
important phases of flight. This prohibition is in addition to lessening the possible interference
that may arise during sterile cockpit operations (below 10,000 feet).
7. CELLULAR & ONBOARD TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.
a. T-PEDs have considerations in addition to those listed in paragraph 6. These include cellular
telephones, citizens band radios, remote control devices, computers with wireless network capabilities,
and other wireless-enabled devices such as PDAs, etc. The Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) currently prohibits the use of cell phones while airborne. Its primary concern is that a cell phone,
used while airborne, would have a much greater transmitting range than a land mobile unit. Their use
could result in unwanted interference to transmissions at other cell locations since the system uses the
same frequency several times within a market or given operating area. Since a cell phone is capable of
operating on various cellular frequencies, unwanted interference may also affect cellular systems in
adjacent markets or operating areas.
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AC 91-21.1B 8/25/06
b. The FAA supports this airborne restriction for other reasons of potential interference to aircraft
systems and equipment. Currently, the FAA does not prohibit the use of certain cell phones in aircraft
while on the ground. An example might be their use at the gate or during an extended wait on the
ground while awaiting a gate, when specifically authorized by the operator. A cell phone will not be
authorized for use while the aircraft is being taxied for departure after leaving the gate. The unit will be
turned off and properly stowed to prepare the aircraft for takeoff as per the operators procedures.
Whatever procedures an operator elects to adopt should be clearly spelled out in oral briefings prior to
departure or by written material provided to each passenger.
c. Onboard telephone systems that are type accepted by the FCC as air-to-ground equipment, which
have been permanently installed in the aircraft, may be permitted for use while airborne or during
ground operations, provided their use does not interfere with the duties of the flightcrew or cause
potential harm to the passengers. Such airborne telephone systems are installed and tested in accordance
with the appropriate certification and airworthiness standards.
8. MEDICAL-PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
a. Medical-Portable Electronic Devices (M-PED), such as automated external defibrillators (AED),
airborne patient medical telemonitoring (APMT) equipment, portable oxygen concentrators authorized
by Special Federal Aviation Regulations 106, etc., should be designed and tested in accordance with
section 21, Category M, of RTCA/DO-160, current edition. M-PEDs that test within the emission levels
contained in this document, in all modes of operation (i.e., standby, monitor, and/or transient operating
conditions, as appropriate), may be used onboard the aircraft without any further testing by the operator.
Equipment tested and found to exceed the section 21, Category M, emission levels are required to be
evaluated in the operators M-PED selected model aircraft for electromagnetic interference (EMI) and
radio frequency interference (RFI). All navigation, communication, engine, and flight control systems
will be operating in the selected aircraft during the evaluation.
b. The ground EMI/RFI evaluation should be conducted with the M-PED equipment operating, and
at the various locations in the cabin where M-PED usage is expected (galley, passenger aisles, etc.). If
M-PED equipment can be operated at any location in the cabin, then the worst-case locations (proximity
to cable bundles, flight controls, electronic and electrical bays, antennas, etc.) should be considered. Air
carriers planning to equip their aircraft with M-PEDs will provide evidence to the principal avionics
inspector that the M-PED equipment meets the current edition of RTCA/DO-160E section 21, Category
M, emission levels, or the operator must conduct the ground EMI/RFI evaluation as described above.
Operators will incorporate procedures into their maintenance program to determine the M-PEDs
serviceability based on the equipment manufacturers recommendations, to include procedures for
marking the date of the equipments last inspection. Operators will establish operational procedures that
require crewmembers to inform the PIC when the M-PED is removed from its storage for emergency
use.



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8/25/06 AC 91-21.1B
NOTE: For those M-PEDs using Lithium Sulfur Dioxide batteries (LiSO2) as
a power source, the batteries must be approved under Technical Standard
Order C-97 and labeled accordingly. RTCA/DO-227, Minimum Operational
Performance Standards for Lithium Batteries is available at:
RTCA, Inc.
1828 L Street, NW Suite 805,
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-833-9339, Fax: 202-833-9434
http://www.rtca.org.



ORIGINAL SIGNED BY

Carol Giles for
J ames J . Ballough
Director, Flight Standards Service

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